Forming of Tee Parts by a Process That Combines Diffusion Welding and Pneumothermal Forming in the Superplastic Regime

Abstract

An alternative method is described for making tees. The article discusses the main stages in the advancedParts called "tees" are commonly used in the systems of conduits in aircraft to separate flows of liquid or gas into two flows or to combine two such flows (Fig. 1).To make such parts, a drop hammer or a rigid die is used to divide a flanged pipe into two symmetrical halves which are then welded. This standard tee-forming technology has several shortcomings: 1) a significant amount of material is lost because of the established tolerances; 2) the finishing operations, involving the stamping and welded of a flanged pipe, are labor-intensive; and 3) it is necessary to use several different types of equipment. Metallurgist, Vol. 56, Nos. 11-12, March, 2013 (Russian Original Nos. 11-12, Nov.-Dec., 2012 FORMING OF TEE PARTS BY A PROCESS THAT COMBINES DIFFUSION WELDING AND PNEUMOTHERMAL FORMING IN THE SUPERPLASTIC REGIME